Car-coupling.



No. 776,929. PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.

G. A. MOKERAHAN,

'GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1904. N0 MODEL, 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: l/VMElVTO/F W6? VWMP jmwvmgfzwma ATTOMEVS- No. 776,929. PATEN'IED DEC. 6, 1904. G. A. MUKERAHAN.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLIDATIDN FILLED AUG. 12, 1904.

1 X r 5 6* 5 lllllllhllllll j g r ya x W 13 ATTORNEYS No. 776,929. PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904, G. A. MoKE-RAHAN.

GAE COUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.12,1904.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' MIL r i 13 I IAMA% 1 WITNESSES: l

ATTORNEYS UNTTED STATES Patented December 6, 190a.

PATENT OEEicE.

CAR-"COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,929, dated December 6, 1904. Application filed August 12, 1904. Serial No. 220.491. (N0 model.)

To (ZZZ ZUII/OIIL it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES Airruna Mo- KERAHAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilmerding, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Car-Coupling, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to car-couplings of the Janney type, and has for its object to provide novel features of construction for a carcoupling of the type indicated which are simple, readily cast into form at moderate cost, adapt the car-coupling for very convenient and effective service, render the coupling automatic in effecting an engagement with another coupling of the same character, facilitate the detachment of two interlocked couphugs, and conduce to safety by preventing the knuckle if broken from falling upon the track and possibly causing a derailment of othercars.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan View of two of the improved car-couplings mounted on the ends of cars and having coupled engagement. Fig. 2 is a side view of the couplings shown in Fig. 1 and of portions of two cars whereon they are mounted. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of the lower half-section of the draw-head of an integral draw-bar and likewise of a knuckle-block and a gravityblock having an arm extended rearward therefrom into the draw-bar, these details having novel features of construction. Fig. 4 is a reversed plan view of the upper half-section of the d ra w-head and integral draw-bar, the grav ity-block and its rearwardly-extended arm appearing in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal partly-sectional view of the complete carcoupling and of an end portion of a carframe, taken substantially on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3 and seen in direction of the arrow :1; in said figure. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view substantially on the line 6 6 in Fig. 3 seen in direction of the arrow 11' in said figure. Fig. 7 is a similar view substantially on the line 7 7 in Fig. 3 viewed in direction of the arrow 11: in said figure; and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 in Fig. 5 of a portion of a lifting-bar and a transverse sectional view of a gravity-block, showing the loose rocking connection between said parts.

The draw-head of the improved car-coupling is formed integral with a draw-bar, and these parts are for convenience of manufacture proferably cast from suitable metal, the draw-head being designated by the reference character 10 and the d raw-bar by the reference character 10*. The draw-hcad is recessed, forming a chamber a therein thatis open at the front of the draw-head and extends rearward in the draw-bar, as shown at a. Two spaced ears 11 11 are formed at one side of the drawhead, respectively on the upper and lower portions thereof,said ears projecting forward, as usualin this class of car-couplings. A horn 12 is forwardly projected from the opposite side of the draw-head, and sufliciont space intorvenes between the ears and horn to permit the free coupled engagement of the coupling with one of its class, as shown in Fig. l.

A knuckle-block is provided, consisting of a latch-jaw13 and a tailpiece 13, these components being loosely located between the spaced ears 11 11% as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. The upper and lower sides of the knuckleblock, at the angular corner between the jaw 13 and tailpiece 13, are reduced or cut away, so as to provide open recesses, forming shoulders that have a sliding engagement with the conveXly-curved edges of the cars 11 11 when the knuckle is held to swing between said ears, which is effected by means of a pivot-bolt 14c, that passes down through alined. perforations in the ears and knuckle-block at the radial center of the ears and recesses mentioned. The body of the knuckle-block is reduced in thickness where the tailpiece merges therein, so as to form an offset at I), and between said shoulder and the free end of the tailpiece another offset or shoulder is produced by a further reduction in thickness of the tailpiece, thus producing two hori- Zontal walls c0',that represent upper surfaces 1 It will be noticed that one pair of oppoof the tailpiece. The shoulders 71 b are convexed on their faces and respectively represent arcs of concentric circles having the axis of the pivot-bolt 14 as a radial center. Upon the lower side of the knuckle-block, adjacent to the pivot-hole v through which the bolt 1 L passes, a concavity d is formed transversely, leaving two high points that are opposite each other and near the side walls of the knuckleblock. Upon the upper surface of the lower ear 11 a corresponding concavity (Z' is formed transversely and has its crown at the center of the ear, the trend of these concave and convex formations being such that the concave surface of the knuckle-block will seat upon the convexity of the ear when the latchjaw 13 is swung completely open, this opened adjustment being limited by the impinge of a shoulder 6, formed on the knuckle, upon a a like shoulder a on the outer surface of the side wall of the draw-head at the base of the ears 11 11.

In the chamber a and its extension a in the draw-baragravity-block 15 and arm 15 thereon are seated, respectively, these having rectangular form in cross-section, the arm,which projects rearward from the transverse center of the gravity-block, being of reduced width and having sufficient length for effective service as a coacting member of said block. It is essential for the gravity-block and its arm to be adapted for longitudinal movement with a minimum of frictional contact on the parts from which it receives support, and to this end two short feet g are formed on the lower side of the gravity-block 15 oppositely and near its side edges, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, said feet having rounded ends, which reduce their bearing-surface.

At the rear end of the arm 15 two preferably cylindrical abutment-studs it project laterally and oppositely, and upon the bottom surface of the draw-bar a cam projection it is formed or secured, which is of suitable height and provided with a sloping front edge, that is adjacent to the rear end of the arm 15 when the gravity-block and its arm are in extreme forward adjustment, and, as is shown in Fig. 5, a foot g, equal in height with the feet g, is formed on the lower side of the arm 15 near its rear end, this foot supporting the arm, so that the gravity-block and its arm may be reciprocated endwise with but little friction.

As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, there are two pairs of guide-toes 9 formed on the side walls of the chamber a in the draw-bar, these toes, which are disposed in pairs, two on one side wall and two oppositely on the other side wall, having loose contact with respective sides of the arm 15, thus holding the arm centered in the draw-bar and permitting its reciprocation with but slight frictional contact thereupon.

sitely-disposed toes are so relatively positioned that when the gravity-block 15 is seated upon its feet g and the arm 15 on its foot g, so that the rounded rear end of the arm 15 has contact with the base of the cam projection it, said toes will have a loose engagement with the front sides of the abutmentstuds it, as is shown by fulland dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4:, this contact serving to prevent the gravity-block from sliding forward too far.

There is a straight vertical wall a at the side of the chamber a, from which the horn 12 projects forwardly, and the adjacent side of the gravity-block 15 has a loose contact with the wall (0 The length of the transversely-trending tailpiece 13 is such thatwhen the latch-jaw 13 is closed, and thus is disposed transversely at the front end of the draw-head, the end wall of the tailpiece will loosely contact with the nearest side of the gravity-block 15.

Vertically in the draw-head at a suitable point rearward of the front edges an opening is formed at the transverse center thereof, and, as appears in Figs. 1 and 5, the portion 11 of said opening that is formed in the upper side is in the form of a longitudinal rectangular slot. In the lower wall of the drawhead is a slot 2', which is a continuation of the slot 2', but preferably is shorter and may have its ends concaved, and, as appears in Fig. 5, the rear end walls of the laterallyalined slots are disposed in or near the same vertical plane.

Near the center of width and length a vertical longitudinal slot 2 is formed in the gravityblock 15, which is preferably rectangular and of substantially the same size as that of the slot '5. In the slotted openings in the upper and lower sides of the draw-head and the slot in the gravity-block 15 a liftingbar 16 is loosely inserted downward therethrough. The lifting-bar 16 is mainly cylindrical in its body, and at the upper end on the normally rear side a wing-like projection m is formed, that has its rear edge inclined upward and rear ward at an obtuse angle with the rear side of the lifting-bar, as is shown in Fig. 6.

A cap-plate 16 is formed or secured on the upper end of the lifting-bar 16, having sufficient area to cover the upper end of the slot t, and, as shown in Fig. 5, the cap-plate is of a length that adapts it to seat upon and cover a portion of the top wall of the drawhead in advance of the slot, this contact resulting when the lifting-bar is in a completelydepressed condition and the rear edge portion of the cap-plate seats upon the rear edge of the slot, and it may be here explained that a notch 2", formed in the front side of the lifting-bar, receives a lip 5*, formed on the top wall of the draw-head and which projects into the slot i at its front end, this engagement serving to prevent an accidental elevation of the lifting-bar, as will hereinafter be further mentioned.

The lifting-bar 16 is provided with opposite trunnion-like projections a, that occupy sockets a, formed oppositely in the gravityblock, being extended from the slot vi therein and at right angles with said slot. The relative positions of the trunnions n on the lifting-bar is such that the gravity-block '15 will be permitted to seat its feet upon the bottom wall of the draw-head when the capplate 16 rests upon the top wall of the same, as appears in Fig. 5, and it will be seen in the same figure that the lifting-bar is inclined forwardly and engages its notch 1, with the lip v1" when the gravity-block is at rest on the bottom of the draw-head,this forward inclination of the lifting-bar being enforced. by the sliding engagement of the inclined edge of the wing m with the rear edge of the slot 11. The lifting-bar 16 is so proportioned in length that it projects a suitable distance below the lower side of the bottom wall of the drawhead when the cap-plate 16 is seated upon the upper surface of the draw-head, and, as shown in Fig. 5, this projecting lower portion of the lifting-bar is reduced in diameter from a point near the lower side of the drawhead, thus producing an offset shoulder 0 on the lifting-bar. A cross-pin a in the lower end of the lifting-bar limits its upward movement. It may be here explained that the draw-head 10 and the draw-bar 10 are held in place on a car-frame A by a bail-clamp 19 and any other preferred means.

As usual in this class of car-couplings, a vertical wall 10 is formed on the upper side of the draw-head, where it is joined with the draw-bar, this wall, which may impinge upon the transverse timber Aof the car-fran1e A, serving to prevent the car-cotmling from being forced rearward on the car-frame when it is struck by another coupling draw-head. The clamp 19, in the form of a rectangular loop of metal, serves to secure the forward portion of the draw-bar hung from the carframe in the ordinary way.

A lug p is formed on the upper side of the cap-plate 16 near its forward edge, and a chain-link 19 is thereto loosely coupled, by means of a clevis 19* and bolt 1, that passes through the clevis and car.

A rock-arm 20., formed at right angles upon a rock-shaft 20, held to rock on the front end of the car body or frame A, is loosely connected with the link 19 by means of a clevis 19" and bolt 9'. A crank arm and handle 20,

formed on or secured to the outer end of the rock-shaft 20*, normally hangs pendent, and the weight of said crank-arm serves to hold the rock-arm 20 extended in a horizontal plane.

It will be seen that the weight of the gravity-block 15, together with that of the lifting-arm 16 and the connection between the l upper end of the lifting-bar and the outer end of the rock-arm 20, causes the descent of the lifting-bar in the slots '5 in the draw-head, when the gravity-Mock is free to seat upon the bottom of the draw-hez'u'l chamber a, the lifting-bar then inclining forward and interlocking at its notch 15 with the lip vi on the top wall of the draw-head, as before mentioned and as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be noticed in Fig. 3 that a toe a pro jects from the lower edge of the free end of the tailpiece 13, this toe working in a recess a", formed in the side wall a at the bottom fr :dom and may be swung outward into uncoupling position, which will project the tailpiece partially out of the chamber, as appears in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

1n the portion of the tailpiece 13 that is between the ollsets Z) 7/ and defined on the upper surface by the seat 0 a g'I'OOVG t is formed, which is inclined from said seat downward and to the bottom of the tailpiece toward the side thereon which rearward when the latchjaw 13 is swung open, and it will be seen that the portion of the tailpiece between its free end and the shoulder b thereon is widened, which part is adapted to pass into an opening o in the side of the draw-head, toward which it swings when the knuckle-jaw is closed, as appears in full lines in Fig.

A presser-arm 21 is pivoted near its center of length in a channel a, formed in the upper wall of the chamber a and at one end extends over the upper side of the gravity-block 15. The other end of the presser-arm is downwardly bent. alfordinga member 21" thereon, which has a rounded free end that hangs in loose contact with the concave bottom of the groove 6, as shown clearly in Fig. 6.

In operation, assuming that the latch-jaw 13 is in closed condition and the lifting-bar 16, together with the gravity-block 15, is in lowered adjustment, the weight of the link 19 and clevis 19 being imposed upon the capplate l6 of the lifting-bar the upward rocking movement of the rock-arm 20 will pull upon the lifting-bar and render it vertical as the upward and rearward inclination of the rock-arm carries the link 19 and clevis 19 rearward, which will lirst release the cap-plate at the notch from the lip i and then raise the lifting-bar. A proper elevation of the lifting-bar 16 will correspondingly raise the gravity-block 15 and push the same rearward, the rounded rear end of the arm 15* now sliding up on the inclined front edge of the cam projection 7i, thus keeping the gravity-block and its armabout level. The elevation of the lifting-bar a proper distance raises the gravity-block 15, so as to dispose its lower surface above the surface a on the adjacent end of the tailpiece 13, whereupon the weight of the kmickle-block and the peculiar engagement of its concave lower face (Z with the conof the chamber a, so that the tailpiece has IIO vex surface (1 on the lower ear 11 will cause the latch-jaw 18 of the knuckle-block to swing open automatically. It is to be noted that when the gravity-block 15 is raised by an upward movement of the lifting bar 16 the presser-arm 21 is brought into contact with the gravity-block and its member 21 caused to press upon the tailpiece, thus giving it an initial impetus for its opening movement.

The elevation of the lifting-bar 16 is limited by the cross-pin or key 0 in its lower end, and when the shoulder 0 is elevated above the bottom wall of the draw-head the pull on the upper end of the bar will rock its lower end forward, the trunnions 12 serving as fulcrums, and cause the shouldero to seat upon the bottom of the draw-head at the forward end of the slot i. The member 21 of the presserarm 21 is now located at the bottom of the groovezf and the arm itself extended over the gravity-block 15, as before mentioned. It should be explained that the shoulder 0 is so positioned below the trunnions n as to support the gravity-block 15 above and near to the seat 0 on the end portion of the tailpiece 13 when it is engaged with the draw-head at the forward end of the slot i, so that the automatic opening movement of the knuckle-block is facilitated in that there is no frictional contact had by the gravity-block therewith. It will be seen that owing to the pivotal connection of the gravity-block 15 with the lifting-bar, as at s, the rearward movement of the gravity-bar and its arm 15 will incline the lifting-bar rearward at its lower end and remove the shoulder 0 from the front end of the slot i, this occurring when the lifting-bar falls into the position shown in Fig. 5; but when the lifting-bar is raised somewhat, so as to assume a vertical position, the shoulder 0 will hook upon said front end of the slot 2" and support the bar in a raised position. It is furthermore evident that if the pivot-bolt of the knuckle-block should be displaced or broken the knuckle and its tailpiece will be prevented from falling out of the draw-head I chamber by the engagement of the pendent member 21 of the presser-arm 21 Within the groove 25 in the tailpiece, which will hold the knuckle-block, it being understood that the gravity-blockis now seated on the bottom of the draw-head chamber and in loose contact with the end of the tailpiece. As the open adjustment of the knuckle-block disposes the tailpiece 13 exterior of the draw-head at its front end it will be obvious that the latchjaw of a like coupling in opened adjustment will, if forced into contact with the tailpiece, rock it inward. This inward-rocking movement will impinge the toe .9 upon the front edge of the lifting-bar 16 just above the shoulder 0 thereon and that is now engaged with the bottom wall of the draw-head. This impingement will press the lifting-bar rearward and permit the gravity-block 15 to drop upon the seat 0 on the end portion of the tailpiece 13. The continued inward pressure upon the outer face of the tailpiece causes it to slide under the gravity-block, which will drop at one side of the tailpiece adjacent to the end wall thereon when the knuckle-block is fully closed and interlocked with the latchjaw on a like car-coupling. It will .be seen that when the gravity-block is free to drop the weight of itself and its arm 15*, together with the imposed weight of the link 19 and clevis 19, will cause the block 15 to seat its feet upon the bottom of the chamber a and the arm thereon to likewise drop a short distance. At the same time the weight of the link 19 and clevis 19 will rock the liftingbar forward and engage the notch i therein with the lip i on the top wall of the drawhead, thus holding the lifting-bar in lowered condition, as shown in Fig. 5.

The predominant features of novelty embodied in this improvement essentially reside in the provision of a gravity-block and its arm held to slide longitudinally in the drawhead and draw -bar, means that adapt the gravity of said block and arm to move them forward a limited distance, said means also causing the block and arm to rise from the bottom of the draw-head and draw-bar when they are pushed rearward. Furthermore, the peculiar formation of the knuckle-block on its lower side and coacting formation on the lower ear of the draw-head which adapt the knuckle-jaw to open automatically by its gravity is claimed as a new detail of construction. The provision of a presser-arrh having a depending member and so pivoted on the draw-head as to be actuated by the elevation of the gravity-block in the draw-head chamber and give initial impetus to the knuckle for opening it is considered a novel detail. The peculiar construction of the lifting-bar 16, its trunnioned connection within a slot in the gravity-block 15, the provision of a supporting-shoulder near the lower end of the liftingbar, the interlocking connection between the top wall of the draw-head and the lifting-bar, and the provision of a cap-plate for the latter having such connection with its lifting means that the weight of the latter will serve to aid in depressing the lifting-bar and causing it to assume a normal forwardly-inclining position are considered novel details. These novel features, in combination with subordinate details, comprise the invention, as is further defined in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a draw-head having a chamber therein, and a hollow draw-bar, of a gravity-block, an arm thereon, a liftingbar loosely held in opposite slots in the drawhead and gravity-block, said bar normally inclining forward in the slots at its upper end, a lip and notched connection between the forward edge of the upper slot and the liftingbar, and means which hold the bar inclined when lowered, but render it upright and release it from its locked connection when said means is moved upward.

2. The combination with a chambered drawhead, a hollow draw-bar thereon, and a gravity-block having an arm extended therefrom, the block and arm respectively working in the draw-head and draw-bar, of a lmuckle-block having a laterally-extended tailpiece thereon, and pivoted between ears on thedraw-head,the tailpiece being held closed by the lowered adjustment of the gravity-block, the gravityblock having a slot, the upper and lower walls of the draw-head having slots opposed to said slot in the gravity-block, a lifting-bar held to rock in the slots in the draw-head, trunnions on said bar loosely engaging within the slot in the gravity-block, and means for raising the gravity-block and releasing the tailpiece of the knuckle.

3. The combination with a chambered drawhead, a hollow draw bar thereon, and a knuckle-block having a tailpiece and pivoted to swing between cars on the draw-head, of a gravity-block adapted to slide freely in the draw-head, an arm on the gravity-block extended into the draw-bar, a lifting-bar slidable in slots in the draw-head upper and lower walls, a wing on the rear side of the liftingarm, having a sloped rear edge which by engagement with the rear end of the upper slot in the draw-head presses the upper end of the lifting bar forward, means for detachably locking the front side of the lifting-bar upon the front end of the slot, means for rockably connecting the lifting-bar within a slot in the gravity-block, and means for raising the lifting-bar and rendering it upright, thus releasing its upper end and lifting the gravity-block, thus releasing the tailpiece so that the knuckle may swing open.

4. In a car-coupling of the character described, the gravity-block and arm thereon provided with feet that seat on the bottom of the draw-head and draw-bar, reducing friction to a minimum when the block and arm are moved endwise.

5. In a car-coupling of the character described, the chambered draw-head, the hollow draw-bar, having a cam-swell therein on its lower surface, and lateral abutments on its side walls near the cam swell, the gravityblock having feet that rest on the bottom of the draw-head chamber, an arm extended from the gravity-block into the draw-bar, said arm having a rounded rear end and lateral projections at said end, and a foot on the lower side of the arm near its rear end and which supports the arm level with the gravity-bloek, the rear end of the arm engaging the camswell and the abutments contacting with the forward side of the lateral projections.

6. In a car-coupling of the character described, the angularly-bent presser-arm held to rock within the draw-ln-ead chamber on its upper side, the vertically-movable gravityblock adapted to rock upward the horizontal member of the presser-arm, the rockably-su r ported knuckle-block having a tailpiece that is released when the gravity-block is raised, and the means for raising the gravity-block, which elevation of the block presses the pendent member of the presser-arm upon an incline on the tailpiece, causing it to commence an opening movement.

7. In a car-coupling of the character described, the lifting-bar held to slide in opposite slots in the upper and lower walls of the chambered draw-head, the wing on the upper end and rear side of the lifting-bar, and having its rear edge sloped rearward and upward, the triimnions oppositely projected upon the lifting-bar between its ends, said trunnions loosely engaging openings in the gravity-block that is lifted by the bar, the shoulder formed on the front side of the lift ing-bar near its lower end, the bar being reduced in diameter below said shoulder, and a cross-key removably secured in the lifting-bar near its lower extremity.

8. In a car-coupling of the character described, the chambered draw-head, the knuckle-block held to swing in the draw-head, and having a lateral tailpiece, the gravity-block which when seated in the draw-head chamber locks the tailpiece from swinging, the liftingbar reciprocal in the upper and lower walls of the draw-head and loosely secured in a slot in the gravity-block, the means for raising the lifting-bar and the gravity-block, the offset shoulder on the lifting-bar below the g 'avityblock which when seated in the lower wall of the draw-head chamber supports the liftingbar and gravity-bloek in elevated adjustment, and the projecting toe on the free end of the tailpiece which contacts with the lifting-bar and pushes it rearward so as to drop when the knuckle-block is swung to close it.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES Alt'lllER liIeKEltAllAN.

\Vitnesses:

E. H. HUTZEN, C. A. STOKES. 

